Clare Hinkley
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Content ArticleMedical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient injuries. This Reuters Special Report investigates some of the hazards associated with AI-enabled medical devices, including errors in a navigation system integrated into a medical device used in ENT surgery, AI software used for prenatal ultrasound scans that misidentified fetal body parts and AI assisted heart monitors that failed to recognise abnormal rhythms. Issues with the capacity of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review the flood of new AI-enabled medical devices are also raised, as well as concerns that the FDA's traditional approach to regulating medical devices may no longer be fit for purpose.
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Content ArticleProductivity is a polarising term in the NHS. In a stretched system, it carries unwelcome connotations of being asked to do more work with the same – or fewer – resources. It is unsurprising, then, that the productivity ‘agenda’ is viewed with caution, even resentment; as something imposed on the service rather than shaped by those who deliver and use it. This blog presents an overview of the results of a recent public call for evidence from The Health Foundation as part of the NHS Productivity Commission, in which a wide range of stakeholders were invited to share their insights, ideas and expertise on the challenge of productivity in the NHS in England and how it could be tackled. Key insights gained covered the following areas: Measuring productivity and defining value: How productivity is measured was considered of key importance as well as defining a shared system-wide priority for the health service. Ideas for change from the frontline: Ideas were presented for how productivity could be owned and improved from the frontline, to enhance job quality and retention. System and organisational capabilities: Many respondents spoke about the cultural changes and system capabilities needed for a more productive NHS. The next steps are proposed in which the insights gained from this call for evidence, along with wider research and stakeholder engagement will be drawn upon to develop a series of policy options papers and an overarching roadmap.
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Content ArticleC-sections are a common procedure in maternity care, but higher rates of emergency caesareans can be a sign of systemic issues. In this article the authors analyse a chart presenting Health Episode Statistic (HES) 2023/24 data to explore the intersection of ethnicity and socio-economic deprivation in shaping the likelihood of emergency C-sections in England. They found that there were higher rates of emergency C-sections among women and people giving birth from Black and Asian ethnic groups than from the White group, regardless of deprivation quantile. This data adds to a growing body of evidence that maternal health outcomes in the UK are not equal.
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Content Article
The NHS Alliance: Improving health literacy in the NHS (1 October 2025)
Clare Hinkley posted an article in Barriers
Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to understand and interpret information about their health status or their interactions with healthcare services. It therefore impacts the extent to which individuals can effectively access and engage with health services. Health literacy is also closely correlated with health inequalities. Research has found that children born in communities with significant reading challenges have particularly low life expectancy rates. In order to achieve equitable access to quality healthcare, we must address the issue of health literacy gaps. This guide explores what is meant by health literacy, the benefits of applying health literacy interventions, recommendations for trust board members, and case studies from five trusts that have effectively embedded interventions. -
Content ArticleNudges are subtle changes to the way options are presented to guide choice. These have been employed in healthcare systems to improve clinical decisions. This systematic review analyses six randomised controlled trials investigating overuse of opiods, antibiotics, high-risk medicines for older patients and imaging during palliative radiotherapy, in order to examine the effect of clinician-directed default nudges on overuse of tests or treatments. It was found that clinician-directed default nudges had inconsistent effects on overuse of healthcare, suggesting that high quality trials are required to determine whether default nudges reduce overuse or improve patient outcomes.
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Content ArticleThis evidence review aims to examine what it feels like to experience ‘well-led’ health and/or care services and organisations, from the perspectives of people with lived experience and people working in health and social care. It is an extension to ‘Making it Real’ - a framework and set of statements co-produced by Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that describe what good, co-ordinated and personalised care and support look like from the perspective of people drawing on it.
